‘Nobody has ever done this’ – Lindsey Vonn ‘defying what’s possible’ in bid for Winter Olympics gold with ruptured ACL
Published 08/02/2026 at 09:58 GMT
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TNT Sports expert Charlie Guest believes American skier Lindsey Vonn is "defying what's possible" by going for women's downhill gold at the Winter Olympics with a torn ACL. Vonn, 41, suffered the injury just eight days ago after crashing in a World Cup race in Switzerland but vowed not to let that stop her as she bids to bring the curtain down on her illustrious career in style.
'NOTHING is going to get in her way' - Vonn downhill chances assessed
Video credit: TNT Sports
Charlie Guest believes Lindsey Vonn is rewriting the rule book when it comes to what is "medically, physically and mentally possible" by competing in the Winter Olympics with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The veteran American skier’s Olympic dream appeared to be over when she ruptured the ACL in her left knee just eight days ago after crashing in a World Cup race in Switzerland.
However, the 41-year-old has remarkably refused to let that stop her and after completing two strong training runs, she will be at the start gate for the women’s downhill on Sunday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"If we go by the training runs, she's come in, and she was third yesterday in that training run," Guest said on TNT Sports’ Buongiorno Milano show. "Obviously, in training runs some athletes all hold back a little bit because they're just feeling the course out, but it only bodes well.
"And looking at her skiing in those training runs, she's still relatively stable. There are a couple of mistakes here and there, but look at the power she's able to put through the ski.
"That's what Lindsey Vonn excels at, is being able to get that power, that strength, into these turns, so that she can bend the ski and create acceleration off the back of that.
"By the looks of it, she's still got that, and that's going to make her a dangerous competitor for the top of the podium, even with that fresh ACL injury. Nobody has ever done this in sport."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Vonn has had a string of knee surgeries during her career and was forced to retire in 2019 following a bad crash. Five years later, after having a partial right knee replacement, she decided to make a comeback and set her sights on adding to her lone Olympic gold in 2010.
But with titanium in her right knee and a ruptured ACL in her left knee, how realistically possible is it that Vonn can do the unthinkable and seal a spot on the podium and potentially challenge for the top step?
"I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but it looks like she's going to still be a contender for the podium today," Guest added.
"You can never tell who's going to be first, second, but it looks like, from what we're seeing, she's still strong, and she's still able to go for it.
"She's really defying I think what we all thought was medically, physically, mentally possible from an ACL injury.
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"She's so experienced, she knows her limits, and this, ultimately, is the last Olympics she's going to do. She said unless she was in contention for the World Cup overall, this will be her last races here in Cortina, so she has nothing to lose.
"This is what she has decided she is going for is this Olympic gold medal, and there's nothing, literally nothing, that's going to get in her way."
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Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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